"She shall thank me, Martin. You will tell her that part of the silks, and ribbons, and laces that you buy for her come from me. Eh? She will love me then. Come."
Dr. Crossett allowed Dr. Barnhelm no time for remonstrance, but insisted so firmly that they should go at once to the bank that he was obliged to agree, and leaving a message for Lola that they would soon return, they descended in the elevator and walked briskly down the Drive, the Frenchman declaring that it was nothing short of a crime to ride on such a day, and he kept up such a flood of cheerful talk and happy reminiscence that, in spite of his deep humiliation, Dr. Barnhelm soon found himself laughing merrily.
In the meantime things were not going smoothly in Lola's sitting room in the apartment. John Dorris had for some hour or more been doing his best to win Lola into a promise of an early marriage, and in spite of his best resolution he found himself rapidly growing impatient.
"It is no use, John!" Lola spoke almost angrily.
"The more we talk of it, the less we seem to agree. I do not care to be married before winter."
"This is the third time you have changed the date," remonstrated John. "I am beginning to think that----"
"Well?" She interrupted sharply and with so much of challenge in her manner that John had to curb his rising indignation as he replied.
"If I am not careful we will quarrel again, and we have done more than enough of that lately."
"I am sure I can't help it, John, if you choose to be cross and unreasonable."
"No, of course not," cried Lola, with one of the sudden changes of mood that had so often puzzled him of late. "I have been perfectly horrid, I know, and I won't be any more. Just forgive me, John--and--and"--she looked up at him sweetly--"and kiss me, if you want to."
John stooped and kissed her, and asked earnestly, "And we shan't postpone the wedding again, shall we?"
He turned angrily away, but she caught his arm.
"Now, John! Can't you trust me? Don't you love me enough to give me my way in a little thing like this?"
As he stood rather coldly beside her, she suddenly threw both her arms about his neck and clung to him. Much as he loved her there was something in the utter abandon of her manner that shocked him, and for a moment he tried to draw away, but her delicate-looking arms were strong, and she clung all the tighter, laughing at his half-hearted effort to escape.